World

'Gunman' killed after Jordan protests

From:
AAP

November 15, 20129:40AM

A "GUNMAN" has been killed and 12 Jordanian policemen wounded as a police station came under attack in the northern city of Irbid in Jordan, state media reported.

The incident came a day after Jordan was hit by a wave of angry protests over a huge rise in fuel prices, with rioting and clashes erupting in Amman and other cities and another police station attacked.

"Twelve policemen were injured when a group of gunmen attacked a police station in Irbid. One of the gunmen died in a shootout, while four others were wounded," said a police statement carried by state-run Petra news agency.

"All the wounded were taken to hospital. Some of the policemen are in serious condition," it said.

A sudden fuel price hike has drawn sharp condemnation from Jordan's opposition Islamists, who warned of civil disobedience and increased opposition to the government in the run-up to general elections in January, which they are boycotting.

Angry protesters on Wednesday blocked a main road in downtown Amman as police warned they would use force if necessary to open the road.

The Islamists said they plan to demonstrate later on Wednesday near the Interior Ministry, on Gamal Abdel Nasser Circle, where 24 people were arrested on Tuesday night during a demonstration of 2000 people.

Education officials said about half the country's 120,000 public school teachers went on strike on Wednesday after a call by their union, affecting at least 2000 schools countrywide.

"The strike will continue until the government goes back on its unjust and irresponsible decision that seeks to make Jordanians poorer," the teachers' union said in a statement.

Lawyers stopped working in Amman and other trade unions said they were considering similar strike action, while youth groups and some political parties staged demonstrations in the capital and other centres.

Violence erupted on Tuesday night as news spread of the prices increases, under which the cost of household gas will rise 53 per cent and petrol about 12 per cent.

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